Ratchet-wrench.



L. S. STARRETT 6L J. A. ADELL.

RATGHET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1910.

Patented Mar.25,1913. I

u fi A UNiTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

LAROY S. STARBETT AND JOHN A.

ADELE, oEATHoL, MASSACHUSETTS, AssrerNoRs TO L. S. STARRETT COMPANY, F ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

i Speeication of Letters Patent.

nA'rcHET-WBENCH.

j To all 'whom/ct concern j users where a Be it known that We, LAROY S, STARRETT and JOHN A. ADELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Athol, count of Worcester, Commonwealthl of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and particularly to ab ratchet wrench.

Among the many users of wrenches there are a great number who require a light ratchet wrench adaptable' to various positions and conditions of work, and easily shifted for dierent sized and shaped nuts.

`his is especially true among automobile large number of different parts have to be tions, and where the shifting of tools or any tional annoyance complicated adjustment thereof adds addito occasions and conditions which are not satisfactory even at the best. To the end, therefore, of providing a ratchet wrench capable of compact storage and easy assemblage, adjustment and readjustment, and yet capable of a great degree of adaptability in use, we have devised our present invention. In this we have provided for a certain construction and arrangement of faucet handle and shank and various imrovements in socket and shank fastenings, all of which permit a ready and easy assemblage and a complete and satisfactory operation.

4As illustrative of our invention `we have shown in the drawings and will describe in the specifications a wrench embodying the rincipal features in a form which we have ound well adapted to practical use. The structure and operation of these parts are fully set forth in the specification, throughout specification and drawings like reference numerals are employed to illustrate corresponding parts.

In the drawings: Figure l is a longitudi- 'nal sectional view of our ratchet wrench, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken' formed, and at reached in various posi ward the transverse bearing,

and y and Fig. 6 is a sectional view bore about one end of which a shoulder 3 is the opposite end a channel or seat 4 1s cut. Within the neck 2 is a radial bore 5, within which is located a reversible pawl 6 attached to a stem 7 8 is a tubular handle screwed into the end of the radial neck 2v. The stem 7 runs through this handle, and has its milled end l7 projecting slightly beyond the end of the handle.

Adjacent to the head 1 the radial opening of the neck 2 is enlarged to form a shoulder 5. Against this shoulder a ring 9 is set having two oppositely disposed notches 9.

`The stem 7 is pinned to the pawl 6 by a pin 10 which projectsslightly beyond the pawl, and is adapted to be engaged in either of the notches 9 of the ring 9 to hold the ratchet in either. of its two operative positions.

1l is a coiled spring disposed about the ystein 7 and abutting at one end against the end of the tubular handle 8 and at the other against the rear side of the pawl 6. The pawl 6 is therefore normally pressed in tobut is yieldable rearwardly. l

12 is a. ratchet piece having external ratchet teeth 13 and a central internal squared .socket 14 passing through it from sideto side. The pieces 12 is rotatably'supported in the transverse bearing of the head l. between the shoulder 3 and the beveled ring or Washer 4 which is swaged on the seat 4.

14 is a vertical channel or groove on one of the inner faces of the socket 14 and adjacent to the end of this groove on the upper and lower face of 12 are bored small recesses 15 which are preferably slightly slanted or tipped away from the opening 14. This will be seen in Fig. 3. Within lthis groove 14 is laid abowed leaf spring 36 of slightly less width than the channel 14 so as to be contained and guided therein. The spring 36 has at each at an angle thereto. This vear'is preferably somewhat circular to t the recess 15. The spring 36 will, therefore, lie within the groove 14, having its central bowed portion exposed within the bearing v14, thus affording a frictional grip upon anything thrust therein.

16 is a stem of any desired length squared to fit the socket 14 of the ratchet piece 12.

Patented Mar.25,191a. Y

end an Aear 36 turned stem 27 of a wrench 28.

17 are a pair of ljaws having rounded ends formed on the stem 16, and 18 are simif larjaws with similarly rounded ends formed on the stem 19.

20 is a cubical block to which the jaws 17 are pivoted on a bearing 2l slightly above its center, while the jaws 18 are similarly ivoted at 22 Slightly below its center. This orms between the stem 16 and shank 19 a universal joint. j

23 is a squared sleeve driven over the stem 19 to form a socket thereon.

24 isa kerf or slot cut-through one .wall of sleeve 23, and 25 is a bowed spring held in said slot by a cover piece 2 6 swaged into' a groove surrounding the slot 24. As the slot passes through the inner face of the wall 23 the sprin 25 frictionallyV engages anything thrust within the socket 2.3 as the Only one socket carrying element 28 is shown, but obviously a great variety of shapes and sizes may be provide for different uses. It is not deemed necessary to illustrate all of these varieties.

The stem 16 may be of any length desired. This stem is made the same size as the socket 14 of the ratchet piece 12, so that the stem' 27 of any socket carrying element 28 might be inserted directly into the socket 14, or might be set in the socket of a holder whose shank fitted thev socket 14.

On account of the adjustability of the socket 14 with relation to the shank 16, or any similar shank, it will be seen that the ratchet can be adapted to a great variety of positions.

In use, the pawl 6 left hand position, nut is to be screwed or unscrewed. This is accomplished by pulling on the end 7 of the stem 7 and giving the stem a rotation of 180; the pawl will then assume the oppois set in either right or site'phase and present its beveled end so notches 9l of the ring that it will vride in the opposite direction. In each of its'true positions it will be locked by the engagement of the pin 10 in the In use the wrench may be used with the socket carrying element shownv or the socket carrying element 28 may be applied to the wrench by inserting its stem 27 directly into the socket 14 of the ratchet piece 12. Indoing this, the spring 3 6 would be com- 'the nature and variet according to Whether the i Loterie the spring 36 in its position in the groove 14 with its ears in the recesses 36', but it is practically impossible without the assistance of tools toagain remove it from this engagement. z

If the work to be accomplished has to be i reached through interveningparts, it is desirableto introduce a stem piece. This may v be a plain stem piece or a joined piece. We have shown in Figl a stem piece including between its ends a 'universal joint. 'In this case, therefore, the stem 27 of the socket carrying element 28 would be inserted with- 1n the socket 23, within which it would heheld vby the rictional engagement of the.

spring 25 exposed through the bottom of the slot 24. The ratchet'piece 12 wouldbe adjustedon the-,stem 16 at any position dei' sired. On account ofthe frictional engagement of the 'spring 36 the stem-'16 may simi' larly be pushed through the socket-.14 and i will beheld at any point by the frictional engagement of the spring.

Various modifications may be made in the construction 'and operation of our ratchet, l'

of the tools, and 1n* A the manner of assem lage and` use ofthe same, all vwithout departing from the spirit of our invention, if within the limits of the appended claim. f

What we therefore claimwand desire tot i' secure by Letters Patent is: v

n a ratchet wrench comprising-a head.

having a ratchet piece, a pawl disposed for j positive engagement with saidratchet piece an operating member` fastened to said pawl by a transverse pin,.and"'a fixed member having a plurality of notches inv one of'which an end of thefastening pin is adapted tov engageand lock-said pawl in operative posit1on. Y In 4testimon s. s'rAnRJErn-f v 

